And the instruments are gorgeous; they employ a display technique called "virtual image" that projects the instrument faces onto a black field containing the orange moving needles. This gives the main pod a crisp 3-D effect. Also, the Continental's steering wheel has lighted redundant controls for the sound system and cruise control.

Included in the dash is a dot-matrix menu with selection buttons for ride control and steering assist, and the on/off controls for automatic door locks, reverse mirrors that lower for parking, lock confirmation beep, express-down driver window and a host of other interesting features.

The electronic topper to all this is that the individual preferences for steering, ride, seat position, outside mirrors and each of the menu items can be saved in memory as the preferences of two different drivers. Hit the key fob, the keyless entry pad or the special buttons on the driver's door and all of the saved settings are applied. Change any setting and the car will ask if you wish to save the new setting or revert to the old one.

We should add that Lincoln has an answer for prospective owners who don't number computer programming among their personal skills. Lincoln sales consultants will walk you through the intricacies of the Continental's Memory Profile System or, if you like, preset the system to your tastes. However, we'd characterize the system as user-friendly, and doubt that anyone will have much difficulty with it after their first run-through.

The Continental comes with its own umbrella and drying case, and there are some interesting options, including a cargo organizer and cart installed in the trunk, and a voice-activated, hands-free cellular telephone that plays through the stereo system.

The leather, fabrics and surfaces in the cabin of the Continental are first-rate, with a solid, rich feeling throughout. The swoops and angles inside blend well with the modernistic mixture of analog and digital readouts, and it begins to feel at last like a $40,000 car should feel.